UN Foundation Board: Climate Change Conference Can Be Turning Point for Humanity

World leaders are gathering in Paris today for the start of COP 21, the United Nations conference to reach a new global agreement to address climate change. Noting this important moment for the world, the United Nations Foundation Board said:

“The climate change conference in Paris can be a turning point for humanity. While climate change is one of the biggest threats facing the world, addressing it is one of our biggest opportunities to usher in a new era of sustainable development. A world free of poverty is only possible with strong climate action.

“Every sector, every country, and every person has a role to play in meeting the climate challenge. Solutions exist, and there is already growing momentum around climate action as more and more governments, businesses, groups, and individuals recognize that it’s in their own interest to act on climate change. Now world leaders must deliver in Paris and pave the path to a new energy future. The United Nations Foundation is committed to working toward a sustainable future, and we join the United Nations in urging world leaders to take strong action on climate during the conference in Paris and beyond.

“Unabated climate change threatens the future of all humanity. The risks of inaction far outweigh the costs of action. We call on all the nations of the world to move with urgency and determination to decarbonize the world’s energy systems as quickly as possible, toward a global goal of net zero emissions.”

The members of the UN Foundation Board are: Founder and Chairman Ted Turner (United States); Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah (Jordan); Kofi Annan (Ghana); Fábio Barbosa (Brazil); Gro Harlem Brundtland (Norway); Kathy Calvin (United States); Igor Ivanov (Russia); N.R. Narayana Murthy (India); Hisashi Owada (Japan); Emma Rothschild (United Kingdom); Nafis Sadik (Pakistan); Hans Vestberg (Sweden); Timothy E. Wirth (United States); Andrew Young (United States); Yuan Ming (China); and Muhammad Yunus (Bangladesh).

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About The United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals. For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org .